The Chief of Aamjiwnaang First Nation is attending the Fall Chiefs Assembly in Toronto this week.
Chris Plain headed to the conference, hosted by the Chiefs of Ontario, after serving as the master of ceremonies at the City of Sarnia's inaugural council meeting Tuesday morning.
"There's 134 First Nations in Ontario and we have the heaviest populated First Nation province. So, there's about a quarter million, maybe about 300,000, First Nation people in Ontario."
Chief Plain said he wouldn't have much to add to the discussions planned about safe drinking water, and wastewater legislation, on Wednesday morning.
"Those are two issues that I don't have to worry about," Chief Plain told those attending city council's first meeting. "I'm very, very fortunate, and my community is very fortunate, that we have the LAWSS (Lambton Area Water Supply System). We also have agreements with the city for fire, and police protection, and those services have greatly improved over the last number of years."
Chief Plain, who was acclaimed to another two year term in October, said it's not just him noticing the improvements.
"I hear it from my community members and the kids, and they're feeling a lot safer and comfortable in our own territory, because forever and a long time, we never really felt safe, we always wanted to stick together."
Chief Plain said Aamjiwnaang community members are "venturing out" more now.
"We have 134 postsecondary students in all disciplines and that exceeds our OW [Ontario Works] rate. That's something I'm really proud of. We have a very, very, low unemployment rate and our annual budget is about $20 million."
Chief Plain said about 80 per cent of the band's budget is directed to the City of Sarnia.
"We have agreements with the city. They work well for us. I can't speak enough about the city staff for working with us. We have a new proposal out, funded by Indigenous Services, that the city applied for, that we also applied for, and we're going to get a lot of sewer and water mains in the community, around the community, and in the valley replaced. This is a collaboration of two councils working together, two staffs working together, and I couldn't be more proud of how we've come so far together."
He said Aamjiwnaang also has a roads agreement with the city.
"Street lights and sidewalks are important to us," said Chief Plain. "My plea to the city council is... if you want to see those children stay safe, you'll do your obligation and put that infrastructure in for that sidewalk, or work with us, like has been committed a number of years ago."
The Fall Chiefs Assembly will also focus on economic development, housing and infrastructure and child welfare.
The conference wraps up on Thursday.
